THE EDITOR, Sir:

Jamaica's development depends greatly on active participation of citizens toward a unified vision. The acquisition of knowledge and its application create the environment for a healthy, educated society. The family was designed to provide stability and care, but now engages in mayhem and apathy from irresponsible parenting. Statistics on the Jamaican family have highlighted a plethora of disturbing trends - increase in single-parent households, illegitimate births, under-age pregnancies, juvenile delinquency, and neglect and sexual abuse of children.

In building any structure, the foundation has to be established to ensure a firm base, with substance and strength added to each additional stage. So it is with human development. The first important stage is the preparation made prior to conception, during pregnancy, and the first three years thereafter. The parents (mother and father), then, have the primary and sole responsibility to provide the basic necessities (healthy food, safe and stimulating environment, unconditional love, clothing, and focused time/attention) for their child. The quality of family life determines the quality of the foundation in preparation for teaching the child, but it is the parents' responsibility to provide the things their child needs.

Lack of preparation

The CSEC results of the majority of students failing the foundation subjects, mathematics and English, point to a lack of preparation on the part of parents. Our nation has not achieved success in education because children are sent to school with gross deficiencies in their pre-school development. The situation is made chronic when our parliamentarians are satisfied with overcrowded and ill-equipped schools.

I am extremely disheartened by the lack of commitment toward education. The Ministry of Education has many excellent ideas to transform the sector. However, confusion exists in the implementation of policies. The most appropriate methods and the process for attaining transformation seem to elude officialdom. Let us begin with a comprehensive programme to encourage citizens to make adequate preparation for their families. That is where nation-building has to start.

I am, etc.,

Dr. YVONNE M. BRIGHT

P.O. Box 5861

Kingston 6